If I can claim 'home turf' anywhere in the Southern Appalachians, its probably the greater Shining Rock-Black Balsam-Sam Knob area of Pisgah National Forest. Only 20-minutes from the house, this area is frequently a go-to destination when I'm in need of a high elevation hiking fix and little time to do it. A rugged landscape highlighted by barren 6,000-foot ridgelines, high elevation spruce-fir forests, thick laurel groves, and views that go on seemingly forever this is certainly an area that encourages return visits. Even so, over all the years I began to feel like some of the wonder of this landscape had begun to be lost on me through a feeling that I had done it/seen it all. That is, until a passing thought crossed my mind a few days ago. There was a peak up there, one that rarely passes unnoticed when I visit, that I still had yet to summit...could it be that there might just be a bit more exploration for me to do in the Shining Rock high country? If there was even a chance, I had to find out.

Little Sam Knob is the name of the peak and its likely you've noticed it too if you've ever hiked its bigger neighbor, Sam Knob. Little Sam rises just to the south of its big brother across the narrow valley through which Flat Laurel Creek flows. Little Sam isn't a striking peak, that's not why it draws the eye. Rather, its the strange division of forest types that marks the peak as unique. The eastern half of the peak is covered by deciduous forest and scrub but, suddenly along its summit ridge, the forest changes to an almost pure stand of red spruce. This gives the mountain a dual personality...a light (green) and dark (green) side you might say. The reason for this goes back to the logging days of the early 20th Century. At that time Little Sam, along with most of the other peaks in the area were completely denuded of trees due to the clear cutting of the forests. After the saws had left, apparently, it was decided to seed the western half of Little Sam with spruce while the eastern half was left to regrow naturally. Thus, the unique dichotomy of forests atop the peak. Regardless of the forest type, one thing that you won't get from the top of Little Sam is a view. Instead, a small cliff area lying just below and to the east of the summit provides the only open scenery the mountain has to offer...but what a view it is! The panorama from this little ledge encompasses the entirety of the upper Flat Laurel Creek Valley and the high peaks which surround it, namely Sam Knob and Black Balsam Knob. It's arguably the best view of the steep and rugged Sam Knob you get anywhere. So there's certainly more than enough excuse to climb it.

The minor bit of trouble though is that there's no trail to the top of Little Sam Knob. To reach the summit requires a short half-mile bushwhack from the Flat Laurel Creek Trail up the mountains steep northern slope. The good news is, that if you plan as I did, you can keep most of the bushwhacking within the relatively open woods of the red spruce forest mentioned earlier. The forest floor beneath the spruces is virtually devoid of any ground cover, save sticks and fallen limbs, so its relatively easy going as off trail travel goes in these parts. Such was my plan for this day. As it was Labor Day weekend I fully expected the parking areas at the Ivestor Gap and Black Balsam Trailhead's to be overflowing, and they were. I had complete confidence however that, regardless of the crowds at the lot, I'd most likely have Little Sam all to myself. Turns out I was correct. I began the hike from the end of Black Balsam Road and began by following the familiar Sam Knob Trail from the lot down to its junction with the Flat Laurel Creek Trail alongside the latter trails namesake stream. I then headed south on the FLCT to the point below which the spruce forest of Little Sam began to appear to my left. Making the steep but relatively uneventful out-and-back bushwhack to the summit and eating up all the natural eye candy Little Sam could provide I returned to the FLCT. Once back on the main trail I would simply follow the FLCT upstream to its northern terminus back at the lot where I parked my car. Easy-peasy, right?

So come on along with me as a non-descript little peak serves up a good reminder that, despite visiting an area over and over, there's always more to explore. Lesson learned, Little Sam, lesson learned...and, as always, ENJOY!!!

Mileage Hiked: 4.0 miles Hike Duration: 2:00

Trailhead Temp: 65'F Trail Traffic: 10-25 people

Min. Elevation: 5,360' Max. Elevation: 5,862'

Total Vertical Gain: 1,050' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 263'

Little Sam Knob, Haywood County (9-5-16)

My quarry for the day rises just across the shrub-lands of the upper Flat Laurel Creek Valley. As seen here, from the parking area, Little Sam (at 5,862') doesn't look all that impressive as I was starting out from an almost equal elevation...

As expected, Labor Day traffic had the trailhead overflowing. I was still confident, however, that I'd have my mountain peak of interest all to myself...

Sam Knob Trail -- 5,820'

With bees buzzing all around amongst the surrounding flowers, I stepped out onto the familiar Sam Knob Trail...

Sam Knob Trail -- 5,800'

Hopefully a sign of improvements to also be made to surrounding trails, crushed stone now covers the path to prevent damage from the crowds which travel this trail each summer...

Sam Knob Trail -- 5,760'

Rounding the west side of the first ridge the familiar twin summit of Sam Knob (6,050') appeared ahead...

Sam Knob Trail -- 5,740'

A few more steps down the trail and my target for the day, Little Sam (5,862'), also appeared...

Sam Knob Trail -- 5,660'

Nearing the half mile mark the trail crosses through the Forest Service maintained field beneath the eastern slopes of Sam Knob...

Sam Knob-Sam Knob Summit Trail Junction -- 5,680'

At the west end of the field I reached the T-junction where the summit trail to Sam Knob splits right. I'd be continuing left on the Sam Knob Trail...

Sam Knob Trail -- 5,680'

Looking back across the field beneath Sam Knob. The parking area where I had started is hidden behind the nearest ridge. The bald, broad summit of Black Balsam Knob (6,214') can be seen rising beyond...

Sam Knob Trail -- 5,650'

Starting the final half-mile descent to Flat Laurel Creek...

Sam Knob Trail -- 5,600'

I quickly dropped back into the forest...

Sam Knob Trail -- 5,550'

Little Sam was now dominating the southern skyline...

Sam Knob Trail -- 5,480'

Another full-frontal look at Little Sam Knob as I enter the scrubby fields near the creek...

Sam Knob Trail -- 5,450'

Surprisingly I didn't see any tents up there this afternoon...

Sam Knob Trail -- 5,420'

The pointed summit of Sam Knob (6,050') to my right as I near the creek...

Flat Laurel Creek -- 5,400'

Despite a fairly wet period of weather recently I found the crossing of Flat Laurel Creek to only be a simple rock hop. At these high elevations streams don't stay at high water levels very long...

Sam Knob-Flat Laurel Creek Trail Junction -- 5,420'

Immediately after crossing the creek the Sam Knob Trail ends at a T-junction with the Flat Laurel Creek Trail. I'd be taking a right at the moment to get to Sam Knob but would be later returning to the car by heading the opposite direction...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail -- 5,400'

Following the creek downstream I was flanked by Sam Knob (6,050') to the right and Little Sam Knob (5,862') to the left...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail -- 5,400'

With no trail to the top of Little Sam I began to make my plans for leaving the trail as I approached its northern slope. I decided that the off-trail going would be much easier through the red spruce forest on its western half. I therefore continued on the Flat Laurel Creek Trail until the forest on my left became for conifer-y...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail -- 5,380'

The creek makes a pretty swing close to the trail...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail -- 5,360'

Just beyond the view of the creek in the previous shot I decided to leave the main trail and make my bid for the top of Little Sam. Numerous 'paths' led up the slope but none really go anywhere. I simply stuck to my plan heading in a general southwesterly direction uphill, knowing I'd enter the more open spruce forest shortly...

Little Sam Bushwhack -- 5,380'

Though the bushwhack through the spruce forest would be easier I found the small bit of deciduous woods I had to cross to be fairly open as well, as you can see here...

Little Sam Bushwhack -- 5,450'

Not far above the main trail I hit a wall, literally. I couldn't safely climb this ledge so I continued uphill to the right searching for the spruce...

Little Sam Bushwhack -- 5,520'

Not far past the rock ledge in the previous shot I entered the red spruce forest I had been looking for. As you can see its fairly open terrain to traverse...none of those nasty greenbriers that plague many other summer bushwhacks...

Little Sam Bushwhack -- 5,680'

Though easy to travel through the climb to the summit of Little Sam was steep. From the main trail below to the summit, a distance of around a half-mile, the elevation climbs about 500-feet...

Little Sam Bushwhack -- 5,800'

Eventually the grade eased up and I knew I was nearing Little Sam's summit...

Little Sam Knob Summit -- 5,862'

The summit of Little Sam is very broad so finding the exact high point is a bit problematic. I took this lone tape-wrapped spruce to be the high point marker...

Little Sam Knob Summit -- 5,862'

Alongside the summit tree there was a small disused camp fire ring. No doubt, this would be a beautiful place to spend the night...

Little Sam Knob -- 5,862'

Though I hadn't read anything to the effect, it looked to me like there might be some limited views from the western side of Little Sam's summit. Exploring a bit I quickly found a small ledge with this spectacular view of Mount Hardy (6,110') and the surrounding Middle Prong Wilderness...

Little Sam Knob -- 5,862'

A zoomed in shot of Mount Hardy (6,110') from the western side of Little Sam Knob...

Little Sam Knob -- 5,862'

It was difficult to locate the eastern cliffs of Little Sam as my GPS had quit working. There's no obvious trail from the summit out to them and they're hidden in a thick blanket of rhododendron and laurel. To reach them I headed about 60 paces south from the summit and struck out east into the shrubbery. Within a minute or two of literal bushwhacking I emerged onto the ledges I was looking for and this jaw dropping panorama is what greeted me...

Little Sam Knob -- 5,862'

Directly across the valley from my clifftop perch, Black Balsam Knob (6,214') rose high and bald...dominating the skyline. I could see dozens of tiny 'ants' crawling all over it making me appreciate having this mountain all to myself...

Little Sam Knob -- 5,862'

Looking down to Flat Laurel Creek from the cliffs. Almost the entirety of my route up to this point could be seen from here. I began near the dark spruce forest at the upper right, descended to the open field seen in the center, then dropped to the creek below before making my way up here...

Little Sam Knob -- 5,862'

Perhaps the most striking bit of eye candy seen from the cliffs of Little Sam is that of Sam Knob (6,050'), who's pointed summit rises dramatically from the valley to the north...

Little Sam Knob -- 5,862'

It was amazing to be able to see Sam Knob and Black Balsam Knob, perhaps the two summits in the area I'm most familiar with, from this new perspective. I took in the natural wonder seen from my perch as long as I could before turning back into the trees...

Little Sam Bushwhack -- 5,750'

As always, downhill was much easier...

Little Sam Bushwhack-Flat Laurel Creek Trail -- 5,400'

Before I knew it I was stepping back out onto the main trail...

Flat Laurel Creek-Sam Knob Trail Junction -- 5,420'

Retracing a few steps back up to the junction with the Sam Knob Trail, I'd now be following the Flat Laurel Creek Trail back to the parking lot to make this a nice loop hike...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail -- 5,440'

Heading uphill once again, though this time in a very gradual way...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail -- 5,440'

Crossing one of a couple of small tributaries along this stretch of trail...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail -- 5,500'

Not all that long ago the route that the current trail follows was a forest service road open to vehicles. I've talked to a few old-timers in the area who remember fondly coming up here with their families to pick berries or hunt. I can understand their disappointment in how things have changed but personally appreciate no longer having cars up here...

Flat Laurel Creek-Little Sam Trail Junction -- 5,550'

A half mile or so above the Sam Knob Trail the Little Sam Trail splits south. Despite sharing a name with the peak I just climbed this trail doesn't get anywhere near its summit but rather runs alongside it providing a connector path with the nearby MST...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail -- 5,580'

As I gradually climbed the head of the valley I started to leave the forest behind and entered a landscape more dominated by high shrubs. This allowed for some limited views of the surrounding peaks. Here, the open ridge below Black Balsam Knob is seen...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail -- 5,600'

A glance back over my shoulder revealed I was being watched by the Sam's...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail -- 5,640'

Tunneling...

Flat Laurel Creek Trail -- 5,660'

As the path swings around the head of the valley it crosses the uppermost waters of Flat Laurel Creek...